Avoid a Business Dining Disaster - Showcase Your Savvy

Written by: Sandi MacCalla – Founder, LifeSkills Academy – 5/19/2025

Whether at an important client dinner, a meal with your boss’s boss, or a gathering of top-tier executives, how you carry yourself matters—and yes, that includes what’s on your plate. No one wants to be remembered as unpolished, awkward, or subprofessional.

You won’t get fired for choosing the wrong dish, but it might get you remembered for all the wrong reasons. Keep your presence polished and professional and avoid these dining missteps.

Unpronounceable Menu Items

If you can’t confidently pronounce it or don’t know what it is, don’t order it. Mispronunciation can make you seem out of your depth. Follow someone else's lead if they’ve ordered it first…”I’ll have what (name) ordered.” This also compliments someone else’s taste.

The Most Expensive Item on the Menu

Ordering the priciest dish can seem greedy or tone-deaf, especially if someone else is paying the bill. Aim for something mid-range unless told otherwise.

Tasting Menus or Food Flights

They’re fun but come with constant interruptions and explanations. Not ideal when you’re trying to engage in business conversations.

Shared Group Appetizers

Unless the host initiates a shared plate, skip ordering something communal. It can get awkward fast—especially if it’s hard to divide or doesn’t serve everyone.

Finger Foods & Messy Meals

Sticky ribs, drippy tacos, or crab you need to crack open—these are a hard ‘no.’ They're messy, distracting, and nearly impossible to eat gracefully.

Garlic-Heavy Dishes

No matter how much you love garlic, save it for a night in. It lingers on your breath, overpowers conversation, and makes others uncomfortable. You’re there to talk business, not protect the guests from vampires.

Quick Tip: If you end up with garlic by accident, drink water and chew parsley or mint if available.

Spicy Dishes

Love heat? Great—just not tonight. Spicy foods cause sweating, tearing, and face flushing. None of which scream “confident professional.”

Strong-Smelling Cheeses

Blue cheese, Limburger, and other pungent varieties may taste great, but their odor can dominate the room. When in doubt, opt for milder cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, or brie.

Deep-Fried Foods

They’re greasy, messy, and can make you look careless about your health. They challenge your napkin etiquette. Plus, fried food can leave you sluggish—exactly what you don’t want during important discussions.

Overly Complicated Orders

Avoid turning your meal into a kitchen project. Excessive customizations scream high-maintenance and can irritate the server—and your dinner mates.

Boring or Bland Choices

Basic grilled chicken, buttered noodles, or plain steamed veggies? They won’t offend anyone, but they also won’t make you look adventurous or engaged. Show some personality in your order (within reason).

Chewy or Difficult-to-Eat Foods

Anything that makes you chew excessively—tough cuts of meat, caramels, or rice cakes—can slow you down and make conversation difficult. Plus, there’s always the risk of food getting stuck in your teeth. Yikes.

In business dining, the goal is simple: eat like someone’s watching—because they are. You’re not just feeding yourself; you’re feeding your professional reputation.

"The way you do anything is the way you do everything."
~ T. Harv Eker

Let your manners and meal choices reflect the thoughtful, composed, and confident professional you are. Bon appétit!

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